Physician Assistants/Associates (PAs) are health professionals licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. PAs perform a wide range of medical duties, from basic primary care to high-technology specialty procedures. PAs often act as first or second assistants in major surgery and provide pre- and post-operative care.
The Application Process
There are more than 140 accredited PA programs located throughout the United States. They are generally affiliated with two- and four-year colleges and university schools of medicine or allied health. Most program application deadlines fall between November and March and most programs begin between May and September. A list of PA programs can be found on the Web site of the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA).
PA education includes classroom and laboratory instruction in subjects like biochemistry, pathology, human anatomy, physiology, clinical pharmacology, clinical medicine, physical diagnosis, and medical ethics. PA programs also include supervised clinical training in several areas, including family medicine, internal medicine, surgery, prenatal care and gynecology, geriatrics, emergency medicine, and pediatrics. Sometimes, PA students serve in one or more of these areas under the supervision of a physician who is seeking to hire a PA. The rotation may lead to permanent employment in one of the areas where the student works.
Undergraduate Experience
Programs offering master’s degrees require appropriate undergraduate credits with a minimum GPA and virtually all require previous health care experience. Suggested studies prior to applying to a PA program include:
- Anatomy
- Biological Sciences
- Chemistry
- College Math
- Computer Sciences
- English
- Humanities/Psychology
- Medical Terminology
- Nutrition
- Organic Chemistry
- Physiology
- Social Science
- Statistics